Addressing HABs and Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water
with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Communities may use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to reduce this public
health concern in their drinking water systems.
BACKGROUND
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae,
naturally occur in marine and fresh waters. Under
certain conditions, cyanobacteria can grow rapidly,
producing cyanobacteria I blooms. These blooms are
often referred to as harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Some blooms may produce toxins, called algal toxins
or cyanotoxins, which can pose health risks to humans
and animals through exposure from drinking water,
recreational water, or other surface waters. There are
no current federal regulations for HABs and their
cyanotoxins in drinking water. In 2015, EPA
developed health advisories for the cyanotoxins
microcystin and cylindrospermopsin in drinking water.
These health advisories are not a federally
enforceable, regulatory limit, rather they are
developed to assist federal, state, and local officials,
and managers of public water systems in protecting
public health during a HABs event.
TREATING FOR HABS AND CYANOTOXINS
Some treatment options are effective at removing or
inactivating some cyanotoxins, but not others.
Effective management strategies depend on
understanding the growth patterns and species of
cyanobacteria that dominates the bloom, the
properties of the cyanotoxins, and appropriate
treatment processes. For example, proper oxidation
of microcystin depends on the chlorine dose, pH, and
the temperature of the water. Applying the wrong
treatment process at a specific stage in treatment
could damage ceils and result in the release rather
than removal of cyanotoxins.
When selecting a treatment strategy, it is important
for a water system to evaluate the costs along with
any potential impacts on their ability to meet other
treatment goals (e.g., turbidity removal, disinfection
byproducts precursor control, disinfection, taste and
odor control, corrosion control, etc.) and associated
operational issues (such as filter backwash and sludge
handling).
Detailed information on tools available for managing cyanotoxins
in drinking water systems:
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/what-
cyanotoxin-tools-a re-available-public-water-systems
~ OFFICE OF GROUND WATER
• AND DRINKING WATER

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EPA OGWDW | Addressing HABS and Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water with the DWSRF
EPA 816-F-18-003 March 2019
DWSRF ASSISTANCE
The DWSRF can provide financial assistance to publicly-
owned and privately-owned community water systems,
as well as non-profit non-community water systems, for
drinking water infrastructure projects. Projects must
either facilitate the system's compliance with national
primary drinking water regulations or significantly
further the health protection objectives of the Safe
Drinking Water Act.
Each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico operates its own
DWSRF program. They receive annual capitalization
grants from the EPA, which in turn provide low-interest
loans and other types of assistance to water systems.
Repayments of DWSRF loans begin one year after
project completion, with loan terms up to 30 years for
most communities, or up to 40 years for disadvantaged
communities.
Additionally, states may use a portion of their
capitalization grant from the EPA as "set-asides" to help
communities build the technical, managerial, and
financial capacities of their systems. With an emphasis
on small systems, these funds help ensure sustainable
infrastructure and public health investments.
Communities benefit when state DWSRF programs
foster cooperation with other funding sources. One
option is the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
(CWSRF), which can provide complimentary funding for
source water protection, as well as other funding
options that could be used in tandem with the DWSRF.
Equipment
DWSRF assistance can be used to fund equipment and
upgrade technologies, like building a new treatment
plant or an expansion to an existing facility to add
cyanotoxins removal capability. Set-asides may be used
for laboratory or testing equipment for research or
contamination prevention.
Monitoring
Although routine/compliance monitoring is not eligible
for DWSRF funding, HABs and cyanotoxins monitoring
may be eligible under the Local Assistance Set-Aside if
used to obtain a baseline for contamination levels or
to assess the proper operation of new equipment. The
activity must be consistent with a state's capacity
development strategy.
Training
Training for water system operators may be funded
with set-asides. This may include one-time monitoring
at a system to show operators how to conduct the
monitoring themselves. Water systems can also
request reimbursement for training on the analysis of
toxins associated with HABs.
Source Water Protection
Through source water protection, HABs can be
prevented before they enter the drinking water
treatment facility. States can use the State Program
Management Set-Aside to administer or provide
technical assistance through source water protection
programs. In addition, the Local Assistance Set-Aside
can be used to build capacity of individual water
systems to carry out source water protection, such as
nutrient reduction strategies, which could mitigate the
presence of HABs. Examples of eligible activities
under these two set-asides include source water
management plans, buffer establishment and upkeep,
and storm water management and reconstruction
activities.
The Local Assistance Set-Aside can also be used by
states to help water systems develop public outreach
and educational programs and materials. The State
Program Management Set-Aside can provide funding
for states to develop source water protection
ordinance templates for city and county governments,
and provide technical assistance for water systems
through workshops, training, and certification
programs.
APPLY FOR FUNDING
Water systems receive DWSRF assistance directly
from state agencies. Each state has its own
application procedure. Contact information for each
state is posted at https://www.eDa.Qov/
drinkinawatersrf/state-dwsrf-website-and-contacts.
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^ For more information, visit: epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf

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DWSRF Case Studies: HABs in Drinking Water
How communities are using the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to address this
public health concern in their drinking water systems.
SANDUSKY CITY, OH
In Sandusky City, Ohio, microcystin (algal toxin) was
detected in the raw water source. To prevent
contamination of the finished drinking water, the
existing Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) feed system
required upgrading. The original PAC system fed up to
5 parts per million (ppm) of PAC for toxin removal. The
Ohio EPA recommends that a public water system feed
up to 40 ppm of PAC for microcystin toxin removal.
With financial assistance from the DWSRF, the City
installed a new feed system meeting the state standard
of 40 ppm of PAC feed. DWSRF assistance totaled
approximately $2.1 million. Since project completion,
there has been no detection of microcystin levels in the
finished drinking water. This project, completed in
2017, serves approximately 76,000 residents.
GREENVILLE, TX
The City of Greenville, Texas, used $305,000 in DWSRF
assistance to install six solar-powered floating mixers
in its raw water source. These mixers provide
circulation, preventing blue-green algal growth and
improving water quality. The floating mixers provide
continuous movement in the upper layers of the raw
water body and greatly reduce (or even eliminate) the
use of aquatic herbicides to control algal growth. This
project provides the population of 28,000 with
improved drinking water quality and was completed
with funding provided to the DWSRF program via the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Detailed treatment information on cyanotoxins:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-
06/documents/cyanotoxin-management-drinking-water.pdf
OFFICE OF GROUND WATER
• AND DRINKING WATER

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EPA OGWDW | DVVSRF Case Studies: HABs in Drinking Water
BOWLING GREEN, OH
In 2015( microcystins were detected in Bowling Green's
raw water source. To prevent contamination of the
finished drinking water, the Ohio DWSRF provided
assistance for the construction and installation of a new
pump station, wet well, reservoir intakes, piping, and
controls. The project was completed in July 2017 with
approximately $3.35 million in DWSRF assistance and
additional state funding. Because of this public health
project, system capacity increased, and microcystins
were not detected in 2018. This project serves
approximately 30,000 people.
ANDERSON, SC
The City of Anderson, South Carolina, installed ozone
treatment (with hydrogen peroxide addition) at its Lake
Hartwell Water Treatment Plant due to taste and odor
issues caused by alga! blooms in the source water. While
the algal blooms did not produce toxins, there were
concerns about future cyanotoxin occurrence in the
source water. Lake Hartwell, where Anderson gets its
drinking water, is the only source for over 200,000
customers. While the primary focus of this project
addressed drinking water taste and odor issues, it also
helped Anderson prevent potential future cyanotoxin
contamination issues. The City received $13.5 million in
DWSRF assistance for this water treatment plant
upgrade.
EPA 816-F-18-004 March 2019
MERIDEN, CT
The City of Meriden, Connecticut, rehabilitated and
upgraded the Broad Brook Water Filtration Plant
(BBWFP) using approximately $20 million in DWSRF
assistance. Seasonal algal blooms resulted in taste and
odor complaints from customers. The algal blooms, in
combination with seasonal manganese level increases,
forced the BBWFP to shut down during the fall season.
The BBWFP project was completed in 2015 and is now
operational year-round. This DWSRF project, serving
approximately 58,000 residents, improved drinking
water quality and led to fewer taste and odor
complaints.
OH'S REDUCED INTEREST RATE PROGRAM
The Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account
program offers a reduced interest rate for community
water systems that are implementing projects related to
HABs. Projects eligible for this reduced interest rate
include:
•	Treatment system components for HABs treatment
•	Interconnections with other public water systems
•	Elevated storage
•	Development of improved source waters
Nominations for design and/or construction projects
related to HABs can be submitted to the OH
Environmental Protection Agency at any time.
APPLY FOR FUNDING
Water systems receive DWSRF assistance directly from
state agencies. Each state has its own application
procedure. Contact information for each state is posted
at https://www.epa.QOv/drinkinawatersrf/state-dwsrf-
website-and-contacts.

For more information, visit: epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf

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